Bipod components and building units containing same



P 20, 1966 P. F. HARTUNG, JR 3,

BIPOD COMPONENTS AND BUILDING UNITS CONTAINING SAME Filed July 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIGURE 2 5 PHILIP E HARTUNG, JR. IIWOMOI Se t. 20, 1966 F. HARTUNG, JR

BIPOD COMPONENTS AND BUILDING UNITS CONTAINING SAME Filed July 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 FIGURE 7 PHILIP F. I-IARTUNG, JR.

Inventor p 1966 P. F. HARTUNG, JR

BIPOD COMPONENTS AND BUILDING UNITS CONTAINING SAME Filed July 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mam PHILIP F. HARTUNG, JR. Inventor United States Patent 3,273,299 BIPOD COMPONENTS AND BUILDING UNITS CONTAINING SAME Philip F. Hartung, Jr., 41 Fairfield Drive, New Shrewsbury, NJ. Filed July 12, 1963. Ser. No. 294,473 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-648) This invention relates to building units, or components, and more particularly to prefabricated units for use in the construction of walls and roofs.

According to the present invention there is provided a bipod-type unit comprising two triangular webs each having an edge attached to a chord or head member substantially trapezoidal in section, said webs thereby being angularly disposed. The extremity opposite the attached edge of each of said webs are positioned a distance apart so as to provide a bipod unit. Each of said extremities are fastened to a horizontal base or shoe positioned at right angles to the perpendicular axis of the bipod unit and to the chord. Two of the resulting bipods can be employed in conjunction with a triangular beam as herein-later described so as to form a module offering stability heretofore unknown in the art.

Thus, the present invention may also be recited as providing a structural unit comprising a triangularly shaped beam having a base member extending longitudinally head or chord member disposed in a plane spaced from and generally parallel to said base member and webs between said longitudinal base member and said longitudinal head member, said webs forming opposed sides of the triangular beam, the arrangement being such that said head member and said webs are of a length longer than said base and extend outwardly along the longitudinal axis of the beam at both ends thereof so as to provide means for accepting a substantially wedged-shaped base member. Preferably the beams are provided with ledgers, that is, support strips extending the length of the beam and adjacent the base member to which roof panels and the like may be fastened.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the bipod-wall unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are transverse sections taken along line A-A of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of the triangular beam unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section taken along the line BB of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating (two) bipod-wall units in conjunction with the triangular beam.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse section taken along the line CC of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a structural module comprising the units of the present invention according to a further embodiment of the invention.

The bipod-wall unit illustrated at least in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 is generally of greater height than width or depth. The unit comprises two inverted triangular webs which are employed as the sides of the bipod unit and which are indicated generally as 1 and 2 respectively. According to a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, said triangular sides 1 and 2 contain a right angle in the upper portion thereof, thus resulting in an edge in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a chord or head member 3. One edge of each of said triangles is attached to chord 3, said chord being substantially trapezoidal in section. The angles of the trapice ezoidal chord 3 are arranged as such to provide the chord with beveled faces inclined at angles corresponding to the angular disposition of the triangular sides 1 and 2. The lower extremity of each of said triangular sides 1 and 2 are fastened to a horizontal base or shoe 4 positioned at right angles to the perpendicular axis of the bipod unit and to the chord 3.

In the described embodiment, the triangular sides may be constructed by a number of alternate methods; thus each side may comprise a hollow member that is two triangular webs affixed to stringers which form the periphery of said triangular member or said triangular side member may comprise a single triangular web secured to battens or other strengthening and stiffening means preferably arranged about the periphery of the triangular side member. Thus, FIGURE 2 illustrates a transverse section of the hollow triangular side member 1 wherein the webs 5 and 6 are secured to stringer members 7 and 8. FIGURE 3 illustrates an alternate method as referred to above wherein a single web 5 is strengthened by means of battens comprising milled lumber 9 and Hi. It should be noted that in each of the illustrated methods of construction, the edge of the web is contiguous to a supporting member, thereby lending such method ideally to the use of plywood webs inasmuch as (1) scarfing of the edges of the plywood web is unnecessary, (2) no edge is exposed to weathering, and (3) a neater appearance results.

The angle of inclination of the triangular side members of the bipod will be determined generally by the height of the bipod and by the width and spacing of the lower extremities of each of the side members. Preferably, the sides are spaced from about 4 to 8 feet between side extremities along the base or shoe. For normal purposes, the height of the unit may be from about 8 feet to about 12 feet. It has been found that a bipod-wall unit comprised of hollow right triangular sides wherein the height of the unit was somewhat over 7 feet and the distance between extremities measured on the shoe was 6 feet may conveniently support -a load of at least 10,000 pounds, which is substantially more than general loading requirements. Greater or lesser loads of course may be applied to the bipod-wall units by altering the height and other dimensions as well as the materials utilized. In this manner the width and height as well as the depth of the bipod along the top chord, and other structural properties of a bipod unit can, for a given range of materials, be determined ac cording to the load and limiting moments, so as to meet governing by-laws or other requirements.

The triangular beam unit illustrated at least in FIG- URES 4 and 5 is of a substantially greater length than width or depth. The unit comprises a triangularly shaped beam having a base member extending longitudinally of the beam unit. A head or chord member 2 1 is disposed in a plane spaced away from the base member 20 but generally parallel to said base member. Webs, 22 and 23, are positioned between said base member 20 and head member 21 and thus form the opposite sides of the triangle circumscribing the configuration of the beam unit. In order to facilitate the construction of the beam unit, the base member 20 and head member 21 are substantially trapezoidal in section with the angles of the trapezoids being such as to provide both base and head members with beveled edges inclined at angles corresponding to the angular disposition of the webs. As shown in FIGURE 5, .ledgers or support strips 24 and 25 are provided on which roof panels and the like may be positioned. Also shown in FIGURE 5, the base member 20 and head member 21 are each provided with recesses or channels 26 to accept the webs therein. Thus, if plywood webs are employed, with milled timber for chord and base member, a hollow beam having a truncated triangular section results. Here, as in the bipodwall unit, such construction has the inherent advantages of: (1) scarfing of the edges of the plywood web is unnecessary, (2) no edge is exposed to weathering, and (3) a neater appearance results.

The angle of inclination of the webs will be determined by the height and width of the beams and by the angle of the beveled edges of the base and chord members. Preferably, the base of the beam has a width of from 6 inches to 18 inches and a height of from 9 inches to 18 inches. For normal purposes beam lengths may vary from 12 feet to 32 feet depending on the other dimensions of the beam, loading, etc. It has been found that a beam of 14 inches in height, and 12 inches in width and adapted to take a load of 40 pounds per square foot may conveniently be 20 feet in length. Where, however, the effective span is increased the beam units should be of proportionately greater height and width. Here too, therefore, the dimensions and structural properties of a beam can also be determined, for a given range of materials, so as to meet the governing by-laws or other requirements.

The triangular beam of this invention is characterized in that a splice may be employed in order to provide a single beam from two beams of lesser length. Such spliced beam may be comprised of webs and other members cut from standard lengths of plywood and milled timber. The splice is accomplished by inserting a splioe-piece between each of the beams to be joined. The splice-piece consists of a relatively short beam of about 2 to about 4 feet in length and in the configuration of a triangular section having similar angles to those of the beams to be joined. To join two shorter beams approximately one half of the splice-piece is inserted in the front of the beam and the second beam is subsequently slid over the remaining portion of the splice-piece. Thus, upon joining the outer peripheral surface of the splice-unit, it is contiguous to the inner surface of each of the beams to be joined.

As hereinbefore mentioned the triangular beam is constructed so as to facilitate the integral connection of a bipod-wall unit to each end of said beam. Thus, at each end of the beam, the base member terminates a distance from the extremities of the beam. Such distance is sufficient to define a connection area large enough to receive the upper portion of the bipod wall unit. As shown in FIGURE 6 the extremity of the beam and the upper portion of the bipod unit are identical in shape, therefore enabling the contiguous cooperating groove of each of the adjacent beams and bipod units to be fitted together in substantial co-planar relation as shown at 30 in FIG- URE 6. The respective units or modules can then be fastened together by removable fastening means.

The present invention also contemplates a triangular beam which has a middle portion of the base member 20 extending further along the longitudinal axis than the remainder of the base member. Thus, a lobe-like mem ber 27 is provided, the width of which being such that the upper portion thereof has substantially the same width as the width of the lower portion of the chord member. The lobe-like member 27, has a configuration as shown in FIGURE 7, therefore conforming to the area defined by the inner area of the bipod unit. By the use of the lobe-like extension 27 in conjunction with the fastening means also illustrated in FIGURE 7, a connection is provided which is virtually immovable about the axis of the beam. Thus, a greatly improved connection results and one having rigidity heretofore realized with similar types of materials.

While in all of the foregoing embodiments, the chord members, stringers, and/ or battens are preferably formed of timber, and the webs are preferably cut from plywood, it is to be understood, however, that the chord members, etc. may be cut from other linear material and that the webs may, if desired, to be constructed from sheet material other than plywood, such as sheets of plastic, metal, and the like, as well as from preformed materials, such as shaped plastics, and the like. Each web, however, is preferably cut from a continuous sheet of plywood, or alternately is comprised of a number of lengths of plywood secured to the supporting stringers. In the assembly of the bipod-wall unit, as well as the triangular beam, the webs are preferably secured to the stringers, battens, land/or chords by means of nailed and glued joints, the nails providing both positive fixing and the necessary pressure to ensure a proper glued joint. The use of nails is not, however, essential since the glued joints may readily be calculated to meet the loading requirements for which the unit is designed. The other parts of the unit may be secured together in a similar manner.

It will be appreciated that the bipod units and beams of the instant invention are relatively simple to manufacture and relatively light in weight, but nevertheless, by virtue of their structure, the units can be designed to carry comparatively heavy loads over prescribed spans. The use of the bipod units in conjunction with the triangular beam so as to form a basic modu le, however, also provides the further advantage of greatly improved stability. Thus, connection of the beam with the bipod-wall units results in a module in which racking of the module in the direction of such beam is substantially entirely eliminated. Even further advantage resides in the use of the module inasmuch as rack-ing the direction of the shoe is also almost entirely eliminated. Such benefits are derived in view of the relatively large distance between the points defining the connection areas. If moments are calculated and employed, it is apparent that the modules of the present invention provide stability heretofore unknown in the art.

As already described, the beams of the instant invention may be provided with ledgers, that is, supporting strips made of milled timber, for example, and extending the length of the beam in a plane passing through the base member and positioned adjacent said base member. Such ledgers are employed to provide a convenient support to which sheeting, cladding or other desired roof surfaces may be fixed by nails or other fastening means. It is preferred that the ledgers are such so as to receive the edge of a roof panel and yet permit sliding of said roof panel. In the construction of the components contemplated by the present invention and illustrated in FIGURE 8, two or more modules are arranged side-by-side and have the lower extremities of each end fastened to a common horizontal shoe, one of such shoes being positioned at either end of the modules. The roof panels can then be inserted in the space between the respective beams and the units are thus covered with roofing material.

The roof panels suitably employed in the instant invention can be formed from sheet material. Hence a suitable roof panel comprises a plywood sheet stiffened by stringers. It is to be understood, however, that any sheeting or other form of material, for example, plastic, asbestos and the like, may be employed. It is preferred that gaskets, running continuously along the joint of said beams to the roof panels, be applied to resist weathering, e.g. water penetration, at that point. The gasket material and arrangement thereof are not critical and do not constitute a part of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 thus illustrates a structure wherein the components referred to above are employed and wherein further walls are provided. In such an embodiment, adjacent modules may have a common transverse member or end filler, this being of sufficient dimensions to engage between adjacent bipod units and thereby uniting said bipod units into a wall-like structure along the length of the component. The component illustrated herein can also be provided with a wall extending along the span length of the structure. In addition, each preformed component may include flat decking, plastic inserts, such as transparent inserts, for said bipod wall units or other structural elements, as desired, for modification thereof.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A triangular shaped beam comprising a trapezoidal timber base member having beveled edges, each of the edges having a recess at the upper portion thereof, said base member extending longitudinally of the beam, a trapezoidal timber head member having beveled edges, each of the edges having a recess at the lower portion thereof, said head member being disposed in a plane spaced away from the base member and parallel to said base member, two plywood webs each being positioned between said base member and said head member, thus forming the opposite sides of the triangle circumscribing the configuration of said beam, and being disposed at angles corresponding to the angles of said beveled edges.

2. The beam of claim 1 wherein said beam is provided with at least one ledger extending the length of the beam in a plane passing through the base member and positioned adjacent the base member.

3. For use as a building component, a modular unit consisting of a triangular beam integrally connected to two bipod units, said triangular beam comprising a trapezoidal base member having beveled edges, said base member extending longitudinally of said beam, a trapezoidal head member having beveled edges, said head member being disposed in a plane spaced away from the base member and parallel to said base member, two webs each being positioned between said base member and said head member, thus forming the opposite sides of the triangle circumscribing the configuration of said beam, and being disposed at angles corresponding to the angles of said beveled edges, said beam being characterized in that the base member terminates a distance from the extremities of the beam sufficient to define a connection area large enough to receive and integrally connect to said beam the upper portion of a bipod unit in contiguous relation at each end of said beam.

4. For use as a building component, a modular unit consisting of a triangular beam integrally connected to two bipod units, said triangular beam comprising a trapezoidal timber base member having beveled edges, each of the edges having a recess at the upper portion thereof, said base member extending longitudinally of the beam, 8. trapezoidal timber head member having beveled edges, each of the edges having a recess at the lower portion thereof, said head member being disposed in a plane spaced away from the base member and parallel to said base member, two plywood webs each being positioned between said base member and said head member, thus forming the opposite sides of the triangle circumscribing the configuration of said beam, and being disposed at angles corresponding to the angles of said beveled edges, said beam being characterized in that the base member terminates a distance from the extremities of the beam suflicient to define a connection area large enough to receive and integrally connect to said beam the upper portion of a bipod unit in contiguous relation at each end of said beam.

5. A structure comprising at least two of the modules claimed in claim 4 arranged in side-by-side relation and having a sheet-like roof surface between the beams contained therein, said roof surface being supported by lodgers extending the length of each of said beams, in a plane passing through the base member of each base member thereof and positioned adjacent said base member.

6. For use as a building component, a modular unit consisting of a triangular beam integrally connected to two bipod units, said triangular beam comprising a trapezoidal timber base member having beveled edges, each of the edges having a recess at the upper portion thereof, said base member extending longitudinally of the beam, a trapezoidal timber head member having beveled edges, each of the edges having a recess at the lower portion thereof, said head member being disposed in a plane spaced away from the base member and parallel to said base member, two plywood webs each being positioned between said base member and said head member, thus forming the opposite sides of the triangle eircumscribing the configuration of said beam, and being disposed at angles corresponding to the angles of said beveled edges, said beam being characterized in that the base member terminates a distance from the extremities of the beam sumcient to define a connection area large enough to receive and integrally connect the upper portion of a bipod unit to said beam, said bipod unit comprising two triangular sides, each of said sides having an upper edge and a lower extremity, each of said edges being attached to a head member substantially trapezoidal in section, and each of said extremities being attached to a shoe member positioned at right angles to a perpendicular axis of the bipod unit and to said head member.

References tCited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,319 12/1953 Doucette l82181 X 2,829,403 4/1958 Willatts et a1. 20.5 2,849,758 9/1958 Plumley et al 20-15 3,079,649 3/1963 Willatts 20-.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,158,911 6/1958 France.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

L. R. RADANOVIC, J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A TRIANGULAR SHAPED BEAM COMPRISING A TRAPEZOIDAL TIMBER BASE MEMBER HAVING BEVELED EDGES, EACH OF THE EDGES HAVING A RECESS AT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, SAID BASE MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BEAM, A TRAPEZOIDAL TIMBER HEAD MEMBER HAVING BEVELED EDGES, EACH OF THE EDGES HAVING A RECESS AT THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF, SAID HEAD MEMBER BEING DISPOSED IN A PLANE SPACED AWAY FROM THE BASE MEMBER AND PARALLEL TO SAID BASE MEMBER, TWO PLYWOOD WEBS EACH BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID BASE MEMBER AND SAID HEAD MEMBER, THUS FORMING THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TRIANGLE CIRCUMSCRIBING THE CONFIGURATION OF SAID BEAM, AND BEING DISPOSED AT ANGLES CORRESPONDING TO THE ANGLES OF SAID BEVELED EDGES. 